Igniter fob gaseous-fuel burners



Dec. 11 1923. Q 1,476,725

H. c. POPE ET AL IGNITER FOR GASEOUS FUEL BURNERS Filed 16 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WIINESSES INVENTOR H- C-Pope,

BY M ATTORNEYS Dec. 11, 1923. I 1,476,725

H. C. POPE ET AL IGNITER FOR GASEOUS FUEL BURNERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 16 1921 INVENTOR L C. Pope use ATTORNEYS l E Q I EEK Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,476,725 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY CARL POPE AND JAMES HARRY FIELDHOUSE, 01 L05 ANGELIS, CALIFORNIA.

IGHITEB FOB GASEOUS-I'UEL BURNEBS.

Application filed Iovember 16, 1921. Serial No. 515,521.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY Cam. Porn and JAMES HARRY FIELDHOUSE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Los Angeles, in the county of Los An les and State of California, have invente certain new and useful Improvements in I niters for Gaseous-Fuel Burners, of which t e following is a specification.

This invention is an' igniter for gaseous fuel burners and relates particularly to the portable type wherein means are provided to produce an electric arc of sufiicient intensity to cause ignition of a combustible as. g One object of the invention is to provide an igniter of this type adapted to be connected to an electric lamp socket or a wall receptacle provided in electricall equipped dwellings and to operate on e current drawn therefrom.

Another object is to provide such a device wherein means is provided to insure a zero potential normally existingacros the gap between the electrodes.

The invention consists of certain new and improved details of construction and in combination of parts to be fully described in the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the invention is not limited to the modification therein shown, but that the right is reserved to make such changes in materials and in details of construction as fairl fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like parts throughout, 1

Figure 1 is a perspective invention in use.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the igniter.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the igniter taken on a plane at right angles to that of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the movable electrode assembly.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5- -5 of Figure 2. v

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 2.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawview of the ings, the invention comprises a hollow substantiallycylindrical body 1, which may be formed of any suitable insulatin materlal, such as hard rubber or fiber. he body terminatesat one end in a slightly enlarged or bulbous portion 2 which 1s so designed as to render this portion of the body suitable to serve as a handle for the igniter. At the opposite end the body terminates in a reduced portion 3, which is preferably cylindrical and concentric with res ect to the main portion of the body, an separated therefrom by an annular collar 4.

The reduced section 3 of the body is designed to receive a removable cap 5 which may be of any suitable non-combustible and insulating material, and of an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of section 3, whereby said cap may be retained upon said section throu h the friction between said parts, the te escopic engagement therebetween being limited by the annular collar 4. The cap 5 is shown closed at its outer extremity by a plug 6 and provided intermediate its ends with a plurality of apertures 7 The cap 5 is designed to enclose electrodes which will bedescribed hereinafter and to form an ignition chamber, into which the gaseous fuel flows by means of the apertures 7.

The body is shown rovided with a central bore of substantia ly uniform diameter extending from the end 3, to a point adjacent to the bulbous end 2, at which end the bore converges to a relatively small and centrally disposed aperture 8, said aperture being designed to permit the entrance of a suitable electrical conductor 9 which will be hereinafter referred to. The central bore of bod 1 is designed to receive a removable cy indrical switch block 10. which may be made of any suitable insulating material and of a diameter substantially equal to that of the bore of the body 1spthat the block will fit snugly within the o y 1.

The switch block 10 is designed to sup-j port the electrodes and switch-elements of the igniter and to this end may be provided with a spring switch contact 11 secured thereto by an suitable means such as I. screw 12, sai screw also serving as one terminal of the igniter as will be hereinafter explained. To cooperate with said contact the block may be provided with a to the main portion of said carrier and into proximity to the odset end 11 of the switch contact 11. The electrode carrier 14 1s arranged to be movable longitudinally of the switch block 10, and may be retained 1n a normally deenergized position by means of a spiral expansion spring 16, mounted upon said carrier and adapts to engage the upturned end 15 thereof and the switch block 10, as shown in Figure 2. The movement of the carrier is limited by a switch button carried thereby, which feature will be hereinalter described. 1

Intermediate the ends of the switch block is shown a recess 17 designed to receive a pair of cooperating spring switch contacts 18 and 19 which may be secured to the switch block by screws 20. A longitudinal slot or aperture 21 is provided in the body 1, said slot being designed to receive a slidable switch button 22 and to communicate with the recess 17. The switch button is shown connected to the movable electrode carrier 14. by means of a screw bolt 23 carried by the latter, and an internally threaded screw head 24: mounted within the button. The

. sliding switch button 22 is provided with a depending shank 25 designed to normally engage the end 26 of the switch contact 18. Immediately adjacent to the end 26 of the switch contact said contact is bent to form an angular portion 27 whereby as the switch button is moved forwardly, the shank 25 thereof will engage said angular portion 27 and will force the spring contact 18 into engagement with its cooperating contact 19. To facilitate the manipulation of the switch button 22, said button may be provided with a. corrugated indenture 28, designed to receive the thumb of the operator. From the foregoing description it will be seen that the shank 25 of the switch button also .serves to limit the rearward movement of the car-' rier 14 under the action of the spring 16 due to the engagement between said shank and the rear wall of the slot 21.

The movable electrode (arrier 14 is shown extending longitudinally through the switch block, and extending beyond the outer end 29 thereof and terminating within the cap 5. The outer end of said carrier may be pro-- vided with an electrode 30 which preferably is made of carbon but which may be made of any other suitable material, and is shown attached to the carrier 1t by means of suitable holder 31. The holder 31 may be of any suitable material, such as brass or copper, and may be secured to the support by any suitable means, such as screw threads, as shown at 32.

The sprin contact 18 is shown secured to the switch lock 10 by a screw 20 said screw also engaging a stationary electrode support 33, carried by the switch block. The support 33 extends parallel to the support 14 beyond the end 29 of the block and into the chamber within the cap 5, to a point adjacent to the inner'end 34 of the closing plug 6. At this point the support may be bent upon itself in U-formation as shown at 35 to form a depending end 36 which is shown as being provided with an electrode 37 and a holder 38 "similar to those carried by the movable carrier 14, and as terminating in alignment but spaced relation with thelatter in the portion of the cap 5 having the apertures 7 formed therein.

To connect the igniter to a suitable source of electric current supply the cap 5 is re moved, the switch button 22 detached and the switch block 10 with its assembled electrodes and switch contact withdrawn from the body. The conductors 9 are then threaded throu h the opening 8 in the end of the body, an one is secured to the spring contact 11 by means of the combined retaining screw and terminal 12 and the other is secured to the spring contact 19 by the screw 20, said screw also serving as the second terminal of the i iter. The switch block is then replaced within the body 1, the switch button attached and cap replaced.

Having the igniter thus assembled, it will be understood that by moving the switch button 22 forwardly in the slot 21, the electrode carrier 14 is also moved forwardly and its upturned end 15 engages the angular portion 11 of the spring contact 11, thus moving the forward or electrode bearin end of the carrier 14 into contact with the I electrode 37, the electrical circuit being completed through the engagement of the shank 25 of the switch button and the angular portion 27 of the spring contact 18, the latter will be moved into engagement with its cooperating contact 19 coincidently with the engagement of the contact 11 by the electrode carrier 14:, When the pressure of the thumb on the button 22 is relaxed, the movable electrode 30 is moved quickly away from the stationary electrode 37 by the action of the spring 16 thus causing a voltaic are between these points, which are will endure until the carrier 14: and the contact 19 have diseuga "ed their respective cooperating contacts to e ect.

the breaking of the ignition circuit at two separate (points. It will thus be manifest that the uration of the voltaic arc may be prolonged by holding the thumb in position to prevent the complete retraction of the button 22 and that the arc will terminate when the ignition circuit has been broken by the respective switch contacts disengaging their cooperating contacts. in the manner described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that normally no potential exists between the electrodes, thus precluding the possibility of short circuit or shock by accidental contact with the same.

To adapt this invention for use in connection with standard electrical installations of 110 volts, the conductors 9 may be connected to a plug connector 39 containing a resistance element of any suitable form and of a value suflicient to reduce the potential between the igniter terminals to an operating value.

In operation, the plug connector is inserted in a suitable receptacle as shown in Figure 1, and the igniter held in the position illustrated therein. The valve controlling the supply of fuel to the burner 40 is then opened and when the gas flows from the burner the igniter is operated as hereinbefore described, the resulting are serving to ignite the gas coming in contact therewith through the holes 7 in the cap.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. An igniter provided with a plurality of terminals, a plurality of electrodes, and means for simultaneously connecting the electrodes with the terminals and with each other.

2. An igniter provided with a plurality of terminals, a movable electrode, a stationary electrode, said electrodes being se arat ed from said terminals, and means or-simultaneously connecting the electrodes with the terminals and for moving the movable electrode into operative position with respect to the stationary electrode.

3. An igniter comprising a body provided with a longitudinal bore adapted to receive a removable switch block, a plurality of terminals carried thereby, a stationary and a movable electrode, and means carried by the movable electrode for simultaneously connecting the electrodes to the terminals and for moving the movable electrode into contact with the stationary electrode.

4. An igniter comprising a body having a longitudinal bore therethrough, a removable switch block positioned therein and provided with terminals, a movable and a stationary electrode, means to retain the electrodes in'normally spaced apart relationship with respect to each other and with respect to the terminals, and means for simultaneously connecting the electrodes to the -.terminals and for moving the movable electrode into contact with the stationary electrode.

5. An igniter comprising a body having a longitudinal bore therethrough, a removable switch block provided with terminals positioned therein,' electrodes extending simultaneously movin minals, and means for simu therefrom, a cap of insulatin material to enclose said electrodes and a apted to engage the body at its forward extremity, switches interposed between the terminals and the electrodes, and means for simultaneously closing said switches.

6. An igniter comprisin a bodyhavin a longitudinal bore theret rough, a switc block provided with terminals positioned therein, movable and stationary electrodes carried thereby, switches interposed between the terminals and electrodes, and means carried by the movable electrode to extend through the body for moving said electrode to simultaneously close the switches and to connect the electrodes.

7. An igniter comprising a body having) a longitudinal bore therethrough, a remova le switch block positioned therein and provided with terminals, a movable and stationary electrode carried switches interposed between the electrodes and terminals, means carried by the movable electrode and extending beyond the body for said movable electrode into contact wit the stationary electrode and for closing the switches, and means for returning said movable electrode and said switches to their normal positions.

8. An igniter comprising a tubular body, a switch block mounted therein, and provided with switches and terminals therefor, electrodes carried by the block and extending beyond the bod means for connecting the electrodes and or closing the switches and a tubular cap of insulating material carried by the body and enclosing the electrodes, said cap being provided with apertures adjacent to said electrodes.

9. An i iter provided with a plurality of electro ds a plurality of terminals insulated therefrom, and a switch interposed between each electrode and its terminal whereby said electrodes may remain deenergized when said terminals are energized.

10. An igniter comprising a tubular body, a plurality of switches therein, a stationary and a movable electrode, a lurality of tertaneously moving the electrodes together and for closing the switches, whereby each electrode is connected to its res tive terminal.

11. In an igniter, a fixed and a movable electrode support, electrodes carried by said supports ad acent to one end thereof, a multiple break switch mechanism associated with the opposite ends of the supports and a single member for making contact between the switch mechanism and the electrode supports and between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode.

HARRY CARL POPE. JAMES HARRY FIELDHOUSE.

by said switch block, 

